Western Boulevard study underway

Anthony Prinz, left, City of Jacksonville Transporation Services, Andrew Topp, Senior Project Manager with VHB Engineering, Peggy Holland, City of Jacksonville Senior Transporation Planner, and Paul Winn, Transporation Planner with VHB Engineering, discuss conditions on Western Boulevard during a study at the Kenneth Hurst Continuing Education Building at Coastal Carolina Community College Wednesday.

Don Bryan / The Daily News

By AMANDA HICKEY Daily News Staff

Published: Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 09:00 AM.

A public hearing this week is just one step in the process to improve Western Boulevard, according to area officials.

Area transportation officials gathered at Coastal Carolina Community College’s Kenneth B. Hurst Continuing Education Building Wednesday afternoon, offering residents a chance to fill out a questionnaire, ask questions and make comments.

Concerns raised include the challenge of making left turns from Coastal Carolina Community College across lanes of traffic, and mopeds traveling on the high-traffic road, but city officials said mopeds have the same rights granted to other drivers.

Daniel Waller, senior vice president of support services at Onslow Memorial Hospital, was among those to fill out the questionnaire.

“The problem with Western Boulevard has existed for a long time,” he said.

He said he hopes that the study will make the roadway safer and faster for people to move through the city.

According to Anthony Prinz, the transportation services administrator for the City of Jacksonville, Wednesday’s interviews mark the study’s kick off. The steering committee, which consists of about 20 community members, will meet in October and November. Then, also in November, there will be a public open house regarding the study.

A public hearing this week is just one step in the process to improve Western Boulevard, according to area officials.

Area transportation officials gathered at Coastal Carolina Community College’s Kenneth B. Hurst Continuing Education Building Wednesday afternoon, offering residents a chance to fill out a questionnaire, ask questions and make comments.

Concerns raised include the challenge of making left turns from Coastal Carolina Community College across lanes of traffic, and mopeds traveling on the high-traffic road, but city officials said mopeds have the same rights granted to other drivers.

Daniel Waller, senior vice president of support services at Onslow Memorial Hospital, was among those to fill out the questionnaire.

“The problem with Western Boulevard has existed for a long time,” he said.

He said he hopes that the study will make the roadway safer and faster for people to move through the city.

According to Anthony Prinz, the transportation services administrator for the City of Jacksonville, Wednesday’s interviews mark the study’s kick off. The steering committee, which consists of about 20 community members, will meet in October and November. Then, also in November, there will be a public open house regarding the study.

The goal, he said, is to create a plan that is “rational and reasonable” that will eliminate problems related to traffic and safety on Western Boulevard while maintaining community support.

“Hindsight is always 20-20,” he told the group gathered. “With this project we’re trying to look to the future and strategize.”

Prinz said the study is three-fold and will focus on transportation, land use and improving Western Boulevard’s appearance so it’s “eye appealing but functional.”

Warren Wethington, county maintenance engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation, said the study is a “good thing.”

“Hopefully through this committee we’ll be able to come up with some solutions to make the roadway safer,” he said.

Public presentations will begin in 2014.

The study is a result of projected traffic volumes along the corridor, Prinz said. In 2035, it is expected that 73,000 cars will travel on Western Boulevard near Coastal Carolina Community College and 50,600 near Liberty Drive. In the same locations, 49,300 and 34,200 traveled in 2010.

“Traffic along this corridor is only going to get worse,” Prinz said.

And since Western Boulevard currently has three times the statewide average crash rate at 1.02 crashes per day, or 1,864 crashes over a five-year period, officials expect safety to continue to worsen as traffic increases.

Prinz said that the goal is to help area residents, business owners and officials be involved in the decision making process.

“They want to help make the decision so they know why the decision was made,” he said.

And if you didn’t get to chime in Wednesday, there’s still plenty of time.

Prinz said that area residents can call 910-938-5073 or visit jumpo-nc.org to complete an online survey.

Amanda Hickey is the government reporter at The Daily News. She can be reached at amanda.hickey@jdnews.com.